SAN JOSE (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has imposed sanctions on 100 Nicaraguan municipal officials who are accused of participating in human rights violations. These officials played a role in the closure of a popular university and the imprisonment of a prominent bishop. As part of the sanctions, these individuals will be banned from traveling to the United States. The accusations against them include repressing civil society and closing down civic spaces, in particular the Central American University (UCA), a Jesuit school that was seized by the government this week.
One year ago, the government imprisoned Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who was a vocal critic of President Daniel Ortega. The bishop was sentenced to 26 years in jail. In a statement on Saturday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the sanctioned officials allowed or facilitated violent campaigns, unjust detentions, and restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms. Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols echoed this sentiment, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Bishop Alvarez on his social media accounts.
The government of Nicaragua has yet to respond to the sanctions. In the past, Washington has already imposed sanctions on top officials within Ortega’s administration, including Vice President Rosario Murillo and three of her children, as well as other senior government officials, police, and army leaders. The European Union and Canada have also joined in imposing sanctions on these individuals.
The UCA is the only university in Nicaragua that remains outside of government control. Founded by Jesuits in 1960, it played a significant role in the student rebellion against the government in 2018, which was violently suppressed by Ortega’s security forces. Since then, the university has been deprived of public funds and its leaders have faced restrictions on their ability to travel in and out of the country for business trips.
Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Cynthia Osterman
Credit: The Star : News Feed
